BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (May 31, 2016)-The Birmingham Public Library's popular Bards & Brews poetry performance/beer tasting series is going on the road from its usual home downtown this summer. On Friday, June 3, Bards & Brews will hold an open mic performance at the Avondale Regional Library, 509 40th St. South in Birmingham. On Friday, July 8, spoken word artists will be able to participate in an open mic night at the Vestavia Hills Public Library, 1221 Montgomery Highway.
The Avondale event on June 3 will feature free craft beer sampling courtesy of Avondale Brewing Co. The J. Clyde will handle the pouring. The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. with live music from Josh Wheeler, beer tasting and light refreshments. The poetry begins to flow at 7 p.m. with Brian "Voice Porter" Hawkins serving as host.
The event is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. Admission is free and open to the public; however, attendees must be at least 18 to enter and 21 to sample beer—ID is required. For more information, call 205-226-3670, email hm@bham.lib.al.us or visit the Bards & Brews Facebook page, or bplonline.org/bardsbrews.

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For additional information about the programs and services of the Birmingham Public Library, visit our website at www.bplonline.org and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter @BPL. The mission of Birmingham Public Library is to provide the highest quality library service to our citizens for life-long learning, cultural enrichment, and enjoyment. This system—with 19 locations and serving the community for 129 years—is one of the largest library systems in the southeast.